Reggie
Reggie was part of an adorable guide dog litter back in 2018, which receives lifetime funding that has been made possible thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery. During his early training, it became clear that Reggie’s friendly, playful nature made him better suited to a different path, he was simply too sociable and easily distracted to excel as a working guide dog. As a result, he was withdrawn from the Guide Dogs training programme and lovingly rehomed by Stuart and Yvonne. But Reggie’s journey as a potential life-changer didn’t end there. Several years later, we recently caught up with Stuart, to see how Reggie was getting on, and how he’s making a difference in his own special way.
Life after being rehomed
Stuart describes Reggie as “perfect for us” and sums him up as “handsome, gentle, and couthy” (a Scottish word that means he enjoys a cuddle). It’s clear that Reggie and Stuart share a bond of mutual love and affection – Reggie even accompanies Stuart to the golf course!
Helping others as a Therapet
Since we last spoke to Stuart, Reggie has found a way to put his friendly and outgoing qualities to good use. Although he wasn’t suited to the Guide Dogs training programme, he passed the Therapet assessment with flying colours, and now helps people with vision impairment in other ways:
With Reggie, it was obviously planned that he would help people with visual impairment. Well, [he] didn’t quite follow the original plan, but he is now helping people with lots of disabilities - still providing that service and doing good. Some of his visits are to people with vision impairment.
As well as providing support for people with disabilities, Reggie has also spent the last three years visiting care homes, cancer wards, and universities all over Perthshire. Stuart believes that Reggie’s kind, calm, and affectionate nature makes him an ideal Therapet, and a very popular visitor when he’s out and about – he loves seeing Reggie “shine” in these situations, while also helping others.
People’s Postcode Lottery
We’re so thankful to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for their continued support for Reggie: from birth right up until he was rehomed by Stuart and Yvonne. Since then, the money raised has contributed to training other dogs. With this generous funding, we’re supporting people with vision impairment to lead independent and active lives. Stuart noted how grateful he was to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for supporting Reggie while he was under Guide Dogs’ care and says:
I know their funding will continue to fund [the] Guide Dogs training programme from birth all the way through to retirement, and that’s just fantastic.
With the generous funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we’re supporting people with vision impairment to lead independent and active lives.
Rehome a guide dog
If you’re considering getting a dog as a family pet, have you thought about rehoming a guide dog instead? Although most of our puppies complete their training and go on to support people with vision impairment, there are some, like Reggie, whose personalities make them better suited to life in a family home. We also occasionally rehome retired guide dogs when it’s not possible for them to remain with their partnership families. Both the unqualified dogs and the retired guide dogs have a lot of love to give, and you’ll be supporting an important cause at the same time.
